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May 15, 2018 - The use of credit information prevents cross-subsidization, according to James Whittle, chief claims counsel for the American Insurance Association (AIA), "so that good drivers do not pay for the behavior of bad drivers."...

May 10, 2018 - Kevin Cunningham, representing the American Insurance Association, argued that the bill could be made more effective if it made the use of phones while driving as a moving violation instead of a non-moving violation that cannot be rated by insurance companies....

May 10, 2018 - The American Insurance Association and other business groups that oppose disparate impact claims sued HUD in federal courts in Washington and Chicago after the Obama-era rule was issued....

May 2, 2018 - The American Insurance Association has drafted a proposal calling on the NAIC and state legislatures to actively encourage the pilot-testing and implementation of innovative new insurance technologies, products and services. ...

April 30, 2018 - “Illinois has the most competitive workers’ compensation insurance marketplace in the country — 323 insurers currently compete for business across the state. There is simply no need for the government to enter the market,” Schneider said....

April 27, 2018 - "Putting the state in the workers compensation business is the wrong idea at the wrong time," said Steve Schneider, AIA's vice president for state affairs, Midwest region, in the press statement. ...

April 26, 2018 - Katherine Pettibone, vice president, Western Region for the American Insurance Association, said the industry objects only to the attempt to combine policy limits, because companies handle coverage in separate lines and are writing differently for each line....

April 25, 2018 - “We are working collaboratively with lawmakers to strike a balance between making changes that further protect Californians and making sure we don’t put accessibility and affordability out of reach in our high-cost state,” the statement reads....

April 20, 2018 - This ties in to a point made by the AIA’s O’Malley. “Given the wide variety of reasons that people own and drive vehicles, there’s probably going to be room for multiple ownership models,” he says....

April 19, 2018 - “We anticipate that, just like last year, we will be going to the governor with similar sets of facts and figures and asking him for a veto because we think both of these bills are not in the interest of employers or injured workers,” Schneider said....

April 17, 2018 - “Companies do have something to gain and lose, but as a broader matter, communities have all the risk,” Santos told Bloomberg Environment. “If you can’t insure the risk, communities are in big trouble.”...

April 12, 2018 - The American Insurance Association responded by saying, “Sexual assault in all circumstances needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. From an insurance standpoint, we have concerns about any provision that retroactively removes the statute of limitations (SOL) for civil cases....

April 12, 2018 - Industry groups, including the American Insurance Association, The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, voiced their opposition at a Nevada Senate Committee on Transportation meeting in March 2017....

April 11, 2018 - An official with the American Insurance Association said the flooding events of 2016 and 2017 clearly show that too few property owners purchase flood insurance. He said there needs to be more ways to expand consumer options by expanding private coverage....

April 11, 2018 - "There is a reason no other state in the country has a law like this — it is very clearly unreasonable," the association's northeast regional vice president for state affairs, Alison Cooper, said in a statement. ...

April 9, 2018 - The American Insurance Association said during Senate committee testimony that higher standards for mental injury claims are necessary because of the difficulty in connecting the injuries directly to the workplace...

April 6, 2018 - "The flooding events in 2016 and 2017 clearly show that too few property owners purchase flood coverage," said Tom Santos, vice president for federal affairs for the American Insurance Association. ...

March 1, 2018 - Jeremy Merz, western region vice president for the American Insurance Association, said he didn't think a "list of shame" would be appropriate when so many referrals are dropped because the Insurance Department doesn't have a full slate of investigators....

November 2, 2017 - Jeremy Merz, western region vice president for the American Insurance Association, said that with the advisory and filed rates going in the same direction, he doesn't think there is a need for lawmakers to increase regulation of the work comp line....

April 6, 2018 - “AIA is opposed to this bill because all treatment should be evidence-based and outcome-focused, and there is little to no medical evidence to support the prescription of compound medications instead of FDA-approved medications," said Steve Bennett, associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association....

April 4, 2018 - Many disasters are made worse by the failure of building codes and zoning to mandate obvious preventive measures. Now, a new insurance industry report offers journalists an opportunity to find disaster-proofing stories in their own home turf.......

March 29, 2018 - “Sexual assault in all circumstances needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Seidel said. “From an insurance standpoint, we have concerns about any provision that retroactively removes the statute of limitations (SOL) for civil cases.” ...

March 21, 2018 - “They are competitors, so understandably they often don’t talk publicly about this, but we do know insurance companies are engaged with developers, trying to help them reduce their liability exposure,” said Jim Whittle, associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association...

March 18, 2018 - A strict liability standard for chemical contamination would be unique, according to Alison Cooper, the American Insurance Association’s vice president for state affairs for the Northeast....

March 12, 2018 - Finding insurance and an agent to cover one of your most prized possessions – your vehicle – can be tricky. It’s important to take your time to find a trustworthy agent and reputable insurance company....

March 11, 2018 - As Canada, Mexico and the United States meet in Mexico City for the 7th round of negotiations, the North American insurance associations reaffirm our strong support for NAFTA, which has improved consumer access to innovative insurance products, bolstered competition by eliminating national ownership restrictions, and established a non-discriminatory government procurement process....

March 11, 2018 - Three industry lobbying groups - the American Insurance Association, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America - opposed the increase before it passed nearly a year ago....

March 8, 2018 - “AIA is thrilled to welcome CNA as a member,” said AIA president and CEO John Degnan. “CNA will bring an enormous amount of insight and experience to the table as AIA continues to address the issues that matter most to property-casualty insurers and the customers they serve.”...

March 8, 2018 - AIA announced the election of Anthony J. Kuczinski Wednesday. Kuczinski was elected at the association’s March board meeting and will succeed Chris Swift, chairman and CEO of The Hartford....

March 7, 2018 - “Simply put, (this) bill would blatantly circumvent legal concepts that have been carefully developed and applied over decades and even centuries,” states a letter to the committee from the American Insurance Association. ...

March 5, 2018 - “There definitely have been some negative changes in Washington over the last several years in what we call severity and frequency,” said Jim Whittle, associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association....

March 5, 2018 - The leading insurance associations in North America recently affirmed their support for the renewal of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which is currently in the seventh round of negotiations....

March 4, 2018 - In a 13-4 vote Thursday, the Alaska Senate approved House Bill 195, which allows companies to take credit scores into account when renewing insurance policies. Backers of the proposal say when it is signed into law, it will mean lower costs for people with good credit history....

February 27, 2018 - As residents across the central United States continue to face flood risks this week, teams of insurance claim handlers are standing by to begin the recovery process. The American Insurance Association (AIA) offers these tips for those who might be affected by the flooding....

February 27, 2018 - He said the current package is in response to frustration over prior failed attempts to reform Michigan’s no-fault system. One of the failed attempts was the defeat of House legislation last fall that would have allowed drivers to choose auto insurance policies with PIP benefit options of $250,000 or $500,000, lower than what is currently available....

February 23, 2018 - Jackson urges legislators to back the House bill and maybe go one better: Throw in a “no pay no play” rule that would mean drivers who do not buy required insurance could could not recover non-economic damages such as “pain and suffering,” which studies show could save another 6 percent on drivers’ bills, he said....

February 21, 2018 - Insurers compete on price by using a variety of non-experiential variables that have statistically relevant correlations to potential risk. Such variables are predictive in nature. Their purpose is simple—to help insurers seek as accurate an assessment [as possible] of future, potential losses, so they have higher confidence that their rates most accurately reflect risk. Consumers can, of course, shop for the best product for them based on premium and levels of coverage....

February 22, 2018 - For insurance companies, participation in the residuals market is mandatory, as the system is designed to equitably spread the risks and rewards of the insurance market across the board....

February 16, 2018 - “It’s good for everybody,” said Eric M. Goldberg, vice president for state affairs at the American Insurance Association’s Mid-Atlantic region. “It’s good for all drivers when insurers are able to use factors that enable them to price more accurately.”...

February 14, 2018 - The House has already recognized that moving away from the expensive, fraud-ridden PIP system makes sense. Now it is up to the Senate to embrace this opportunity to deliver additional savings to Floridians....

February 12, 2018 - When it comes to medical care for injured workers, the American Insurance Association said employers and their insurers are "best positioned to identify specialists in occupational medicine who can furnish care for the duration and intensity necessary to bring about a swift and successful recovery," said Stoller....

February 2, 2018 - "If NAFTA 2.0 is going to set the standard for modern trade agreements and set the rules for trade in our region it cannot be [Trans-Pacific Partnership] TPP-minus or NAFTA-minus, which is what it would be if MFN-forward is cut out," said Simchak....

February 9, 2018 - “U.S. insurers must also demonstrate [i.e., show statistical proof] that their rates meet acceptable levels of accuracy,” says Jim Whittle, associate general counsel at the American Insurance Association. “They have to demonstrate the premiums are not inadequate, excessive or unduly/unfairly discriminatory. And they must show it through experience.”...

February 7, 2018 - "During the past five years, Florida workers' compensation insurers reviewed an average of 3.85 million medical bills annually, paying nearly $500 million per year at a 98% of timeliness," said Stoller....

February 6, 2018 - Restricting underwriting factors, Cooper said, leads to more marketplace uncertainty and leaves insurers with less data to accurately predict risk. “This would be exacerbated in a state like Massachusetts that already prohibits a lot of underwriting factors,” she said....

February 6, 2018 - He said in a statement the bill is “a very reasonable reform to liability standards associated with all construction projects that receive federal funding.” Pearce said the AIA looks forward to seeing the bill — now headed to the House floor — advance in coming weeks....

February 6, 2018 - The overwhelming number of claims fall within the current Kansas requirements, and consumers could seek more coverage from insurers if they desire, he said. And Bosse said 77% of insured Kansans exceed the insurance minimum. “All of those [higher] limits are available in the private market,” he said....

February 2, 2018 - "While each company’s approach to addressing a breach may differ, the most important thing is to 'stop the bleed,' said Angela Gleason, Washington, D.C.based senior counsel, cyber security, privacy, travel insurance, surety, construction and intellectual property, at the American Insurance Association."...

February 2, 2018 - "In truth, the impact of lower federal taxes will vary greatly for each insurer, in each state, and for each line of business." The industry also drew a distinction between utilities ("state-sanctioned monopolies") and insurers, which "must truly compete for business in a marketplace where consumers have many options."...

February 1, 2018 - "The AIA/PCI letter highlights that the property and casualty insurance industry's outstanding track record of price competitiveness means that any bottom-line benefits of the tax bill will ultimately be felt by consumers in the marketplace." ...

February 1, 2018 - Whittle said the growing cost of vehicle repairs could be a factor, but added that an economic boom means the average driver is spending more time in their car, increasing their likelihood of being involved in an accident....

January 31, 2018 - “It is critical to an efficient workers’ compensation system that Oklahoma’s legislature and courts provide as broad a scope as possible for applying ‘principal employer’ for exclusive remedy purposes,” said Steve Bennett, associate general counsel at American Insurance Association in Washington....

January 29, 2018 - "Insurers are working aggressively to adjust residents' claims and fast-track their recovery. We appreciate the Commissioner's continuing communications with our industry, and we agree that the cause of each loss will be an important consideration in handling claims appropriately."...

January 25, 2018 - The American Insurance Association submitted written testimony opposing the bill. They argue homeowners and business insurers would pay the cost of providing benefits to firefighters, imposing a disproportionate tax on one group of taxpayers to fund something that benefits the general public....

January 24, 2018 - "If wellness and similar programs are effective, it will show up in the employer's experience rating via a lower experience modifier," said Steve Bennett, AIA associate general counsel and director of workers' compensation programs....

January 24, 2018 - “While we all have the utmost respect and appreciation for law enforcement and first responders, AIA opposes permitting recovery of mental stress claims in the workers’ compensation system in the absence of any physical impairment,” said Ron Jackson, Atlanta-based vice president for state affairs, Southeast region for the AIA....

January 24, 2018 - The American Insurance Association said it believes legislation to address AOB could finally pass this year after several failed attempts. “It’s probably going to go down to the very end of the session and you try to get the best bill that you can,” said Joe DiGiovanni, AIA senior vice president for state affairs. “It’s clear they’re intent on passing something.”...

January 23, 2018 - AOB lawsuits jumped from 405 in 2006 to more than 28,000 in 2016, an increase of 6,800 percent. Before that spike, according to the American Insurance Association, property insurance rates in Florida had either decreased or stayed the same in 63 percent of insurer filings approved by the state....

January 22, 2018 - By permitting financial institutions to store and process data in the location that’s best for them, we can improve the financial products we all consume, help secure our personal information from cyberattacks, and help make it possible for the under-insured and under-banked populations to gain access to the financial system....

January 17, 2018 - Under current law, unscrupulous attorneys and contractors have every incentive to engage in frivolous litigation over their inflated fees. Florida lawmakers should resolve in 2018 to put Florida insurance consumers ahead of litigation abusers and restore AOB to its legitimate intent....

January 16, 2018 - Ashley Kalifeh, representing the American Insurance Association and Associated Industries of Florida, said glass experts should also be able to conduct the inspections while expressing concern about the timelines. Kalifeh said people are already being encouraged by some glass shops to avoid inspections for windshield replacements that may not be needed....

January 15, 2018 - “The undersigned organizations, representing companies across the American economy, take the stewardship and protection of customers’ personal information very seriously,” the groups write....

January 12, 2018 - Ferm said he was initially skeptical about repeal as legislative counsel for the American Insurance Association, a trade group representing insurers in Colorado’s debate. “It was not really the catastrophe that was anticipated.”...

January 10, 2018 - “Formularies play a critical role in reducing the dangers to injured workers caused by inappropriate pharmaceutical prescriptions. They also have proven to be effective in reining in prescription drug costs overall....

January 9, 2018 - “Adding an extra step to the workers’ compensation review and approval process is redundant and unnecessary. Workers’ compensation rate filings are already well supported with evidence, and subjected to rigorous scrutiny and public hearing before the Office of Insurance Regulation.”...

January 5, 2018 - Degnan characterized Byrne as a “phenomenal governor” and “out-of-the-box thinker” who read a lot and was passionate about the issues he felt strongly about. He also hailed Byrne for depoliticizing regulatory apparatuses that oversaw health care, insurance or any businesses that directly affected the environment....

January 4, 2018 - “The insurance industry’s overwhelming priority right now is helping their customers rebuild their lives and restore their property. We urge the Commissioner to proceed with caution," the statement said. "... Only a competitive insurance market ultimately will fill the insurance needs of California homeowners.”...

January 4, 2018 - The American Insurance Association “appreciates the professionalism and commitment of OJCC judges and their contributions to an efficient and well-run workers’ compensation system,” said AIA Southeast Region Vice President Ron Jackson....

December 29, 2017 - HB 1774 curbs lawsuit abuse by requiring notice before a suit can be filed in order to permit the insurer to address any outstanding claims issues, according to the American Insurance Association (AIA), a national insurance company trade organization....

December 27, 2017 - “Our understanding is that the commission has not dropped the formulary idea entirely but does want to bring the stakeholders to the table and reach a consensus and then go to the General Assembly for statutory authority,” Jackson said....

December 27, 2017 - “Medical costs for workers’ compensation care in Illinois on average are far more than in most other states. This seems to be the wrong move at the wrong time,” Schneider wisely said....

December 21, 2017 - “We need to take a hard look at catastrophes and determine we have enough consumers purchasing the type of catastrophe risk insurance that they need to. And that we’re doing all we can to protect against future loss by building resilience in the community,” said Zielezienski...

December 22, 2017 - The American Insurance Association, representing P/C insurers, issued the following statement from David Pearce, vice president and director of tax policy: “Today, the House and Senate took an important step in reforming our tax code. In addition to a more competitive corporate rate, AIA supports this simpler, fairer approach, especially as it relates to our industry’s unique business model. ...

December 20, 2017 - “Today, the House and Senate took an important step in reforming our tax code,” David Pearce, vice president and director of tax policy for the Washington-based American Insurance Association, said in a statement. “In addition to a more competitive corporate rate, AIA supports this simpler, fairer approach, especially as it relates to our industry’s unique business model. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress on our remaining priorities.”...

December 19, 2017 - The American Insurance Association commented that it “supports an eventual move to electronic billing” but asked for implementation to be delayed until “relevant technology is proven both capable and affordable for payers and health care providers alike.”...

December 19, 2017 - A new insurer might not test its platform initially with workers’ compensation coverage, which is heavily regulated, O’Malley said, but successful platforms are likely to eventually offer a full suite of business products, including workers’ comp....

December 18, 2017 - "We presented a legislative proposal that would create authority that would needed for an effective sandbox, which has been used in Europe. It would allow an insurance commissioner to receive an application from an insurer or other licensee that says, ‘We can meet the consumer protection need of that law in another way,’ but still in a supervised environment," O'Malley said....

December 13, 2017 - Ron Jackson, AIA vice president, state affairs, Southeast region, told Best’s News Service his group has a fundamental concern with Florida’s attempt to repeal the $10,000 liability coverage mandate and replace it with the $5,000 medical payments liability requirement, which the AIA believes is unnecessary. ...

December 8, 2017 - “We appreciate Congress acting to prevent a lapse in the NFIP,” he told Best’s News Service. “We remain hopeful that Congress will provide marketplace certainty through a long-term reauthorization that stabilizes the NFIP and maintains the WYO insurers ability to effectively deliver flood insurance coverage to their policyholders.”...

December 11, 2017 - “Once fully in place, this will level the playing field among local and foreign financial services firms in China,” the Engage China coalition said. The group counts the American Bankers Association and the American Insurance Association among its members. ...

December 7, 2017 - AIA officials said the proposal, initially presented to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Innovation and Technology Task Force, would give state insurance regulators the freedom to waive some regulatory requirements for insurers who want to test innovative new products and technologies....

December 6, 2017 - AIA's Senior Vice President for Public Policy, Mike O'Malley, issued the following statement ahead of the announcement: “With the U.S. at risk of falling behind other countries, AIA believes it is time for our regulatory system to adapt to our ever-changing, technology-driven world....

December 1, 2017 - “The restatement’s departure from current case law on liability insurance and the consequent failure to show proper deference to state legislative jurisdiction and expertise is troubling."...

December 1, 2017 - “AIA and PCI agree with NCOIL that, absent meaningful change, the Restatement should not be recognised by courts as an authoritative reference regarding established rules and principles of insurance law,” the two organisations said in a joint statement regarding the issue....

November 29, 2017 - The American Insurance Association...wanted Medicare-based fee schedules, but said earlier this year that Virginia’s new schedules were a vast improvement over the old charge-based system....

November 28, 2017 - Said AIA Associate General Counsel Steve Bennett: “Though we are still reading through the new guidelines, we support the effort to update them, especially given the new medical knowledge we’ve gained in the decades since the guidelines were originally adopted.”...

November 24, 2017 - Jim Whittle, associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association, defended the practice in an interview, calling credit scores a “useful and proven” way to assess a person’s risk. He added that some insurance companies place more weight on a person’s credit than others....

November 1, 2017 - Degnan is a former New York attorney general who most recently served as chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tapped Degnan as chairman in the aftermath of the Bridgegate scandal....

November 20, 2017 - “While the type of data collected and utilized will differ by insurer, they strive to be clear and transparent in their privacy statements to allow consumers the ability to make informed choices and preserve the consumer trust they rely on,” said Angela Gleason of the American Insurance Association....

November 17, 2017 - “Our folks have always had concerns about lessening the evidentiary standard and perhaps setting up situations where non-work-related mental stress could proliferate in the workers’ compensation context,” Jackson said at the time....

November 8, 2017 - "It's a new development, so we don't have a lot of current experience with this," said Jim Whittle, assistant general counsel of the American Insurance Association in Washington D.C. "Does it make the house more risky? Does it make the house less risky?"...

November 8, 2017 - “If provisions allow insurance companies to make filings that truly reflect what a discount may or may not be based on actuarial analysis, that’s one thing,” said Ron Jackson, the American Insurance Association’s vice president for state affairs, southeast region. “But to mandate and say that every insurer has to offer a credit for X, I don’t think you’ll find any support for that because that’s not an actuarial approach.”...

November 7, 2017 - The American Insurance Association has named former New Jersey Attorney General John Degnan as its new president and CEO. He most recently served as the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, but announced his resignation in August. He previously served as the chief operating officer of the Chubb Corporation, one of the world’s largest property and casualty insurance companies....

November 5, 2017 - "The good news is that insurers are more prepared than ever to manage [natural disasters] --both from a reinsurance and cat bond perspective and from the use of predictive and cat modeling," he said....

November 3, 2017 - The American Insurance Association has named John Degnan its new president and CEO. The trade association, whose members are property-casualty insurance companies, announced the appointment on Wednesday. ...

November 2, 2017 - The American Insurance Association supports the council’s effort toward workers’ comp reform, said Maggie Seidel, AIA vice president, public affairs. She said the plan’s medical fee schedule would help keep costs in check and puts Wisconsin in line with fee schedules in 44 other states....

November 2, 2017 - “For the financial services industries, data flow commitments really are a must-have in Nafta,” said Steve Simchak, director of international affairs for the American Insurance Association, a trade group that represents 320 U.S. insurers....

November 1, 2017 - “Formularies are a critical part of reducing the dangers to injured workers caused by inappropriate pharmaceutical prescriptions. States are starting to see the advantages to the treatment of injured workers and the workers’ compensation systems when such policies are enacted,” Steve Bennett, Washington-based associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association, said....

November 1, 2017 - “Having actively participated in the property-casualty industry’s most significant public policy debates for more than two decades, John understands the challenges that the industry faces in its search for effective solutions,” said AIA’s Stef Zielezienski, senior vice president and general counsel. ...

November 1, 2017 - “John Degnan is a veteran leader and a well-known, highly respected executive in the industry,” said Chris Swift, chairman and CEO of Hartford Financial and chairman of AIA’s board....

November 1, 2017 - There is a new leader of the American Insurance Association (AIA), with the industry body issuing a statement today announcing the appointment of John Degnan as its new president and CEO....

November 1, 2017 - Zielezienski has been with the organization for two decades; at the top of his agenda are changes to the Dodd-Frank financial reform law and the renewal of provisions dealing with terrorism risk and federal flood insurance....

October 31, 2017 - “The adoption of new, up-to-date guidelines should help to reduce costs to the system, while ensuring that SLU awards for injured workers are based on the most current medical evidence in order to accurately determine levels of impairment,” AIA Northeast region Vice President Alison Cooper said....

October 30, 2017 - After its victory at Treasury, the industry told the U.S. District Court in Washington that this time it would fight HUD’s request for another delay. Zielezienski called the legal holdup a real-world consequence of political gridlock....

October 27, 2017 - Stef Zielezienski, acting chief executive officer and general counsel, praised several aspects of the report that he said the association has been lobbying for, including a shift away from an entity-based approach to an activities-based framework for domestic and global systemic risk assessments of insurers and “a re-commitment to a unified U.S. voice on international matters,” including a workable group capital initiative for U.S.-based insurance groups with international operations....

October 21, 2017 - "People who are unhappy with their payment amount can ask that it be reconsidered, ask that it be appealed within the WYO, and appeal it within the (National Flood Insurance Program)," Santos said....

October 19, 2017 - “Proponents for the passage of this bill argue that non-profit organisations are unable to obtain property coverage from the traditional insurance marketplace,” said Tom Santos, vice president, federal affairs at AIA. “That’s not the case.” ...

October 25, 2017 - New York's highest court ruled against a coalition of 20 insurance carriers that argued the closure of New York’s Fund for Reopened Cases was unconstitutional because it subjected them to between $1.1 billion and $1.6 billion in retroactive liabilities. Alison Cooper, vice president of state affairs for the Northeast region, stated “AIA is disappointed by the court’s decision - a retroactive imposition of more than $1 billion in unfunded liabilities on workers’ compensation insurers.”...

October 20, 2017 - “Cyberattacks are a constantly evolving threat, and bad actors are very good at adapting to new technology and defenses. Threats can be intentional or unintentional; they may come from an internal or external bad actor; a third-party may be the chosen avenue for entry; and the motivation for such activity can vary. Because of this, businesses and governments must be allowed to deploy flexible, risk-based approaches to their unique cybersecurity needs.”...

October 18, 2017 - Steve Bennett, associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association (AIA), says that AIA's "number one goal is to ensure that injured workers receive the highest quality and most appropriate medical care to foster prompt recovery and a timely return to work." He adds, "All treatment should be evidence-based and outcome-focused, and there is little to no medical evidence to support the prescription of compound medications instead of FDA-approved medications. In the extremely rare circumstance where a particular injured worker requires a compound medication, the proposed rules allow such prescriptions via preauthorization."...

October 17, 2017 - In a brief filed in the New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division, First Department, the American Insurance Association (AIA) and others argue that a recent New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) case management order governing all New York City asbestos litigation should be vacated. In the brief the groups argue that the court should, at a minimum, restore the practice of deferring punitive damages claims and require plaintiffs to file all eligible asbestos trust claims early in the discovery process and specify that trust claims materials are admissible....

October 13, 2017 - The American Insurance Association and other groups support the proposal to require preauthorization for all compounded medications. If adopted, it would make Texas the fifth state to mandate preauthorization for all compounded medications. ...

October 12, 2017 -The Trump administration wants to open the door wider for private insurers to compete in the flood insurance market, but insurers also want the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to continue. "We don't want to see it disappear," says Tom Santos, a vice president at the American Insurance Association....

October 11, 2017 - “Thanks to a number of effective reforms, especially those that help control medical costs, the workers compensation industry is quite healthy,” Steve Bennett, AIA associate counsel, said in a statement. “AIA’s number one goal continues to be that the injured worker receives the highest quality and most appropriate medical care to foster prompt recovery and a timely return to work.” ...

October 5, 2017 - The American Insurance Association opposes the bills, with Ron Jackson, vice president, state affairs in AIA’s Southeast region, saying they are unnecessary. Florida law, Jackson said, already prohibits insurers from using credit scoring and ZIP code information that is unfairly discriminatory. Jackson said the bills are also anti-competitive and anti-consumer because appropriate use of credit scores allows insurers to provide consumers with more accurate and competitively priced products....

October 5, 2017 - “Last week, legislation was introduced to make very basic reforms to New York's law — permitting a judge and jury to weigh the evidence of all parties' negligence, just like they would for any other lawsuit. Some called these changes "callous, cold-hearted" assaults "on working men and women." But the data tells a very different story.”...

October 4, 2017 - Bennett told WorkCompCentral on Tuesday that AIA supports the changes AWCC has made to the formulary. “The revisions put more effective restrictions on opioid prescriptions,” he said....

October 3, 2017 - The American Insurance Association, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America and the Reinsurance Association of America issued a joint statement in response to the release of a tax reform framework: “The P&C industry is pleased to see the framework’s plan for reducing the corporate tax rate to 20% and eliminating the alternative minimum tax,” the statement said. “The framework takes positive steps to address other business taxes in an effort to increase simplicity, efficiency, transparency, compliance and global competitiveness.”...

October 3, 2017 - "How do you change functions that have relied on that traditional business model of insurance for decades, and how do you introduce change in a way that won't be disruptive to those who are uncomfortable with it? Regulation has to be seen as a platform for change--a launching point for innovation; otherwise, it will be an obstacle," Zielezienski said....

September 27, 2017 - “My understanding is that the specific discussions on financial services have gone well so far, though the financial services chapter cannot exist in a vacuum, of course,” Steve Simchak, director of international affairs at the American Insurance Association, told Inside U.S. Trade. “A successful outcome in the NAFTA negotiations is crucial for U.S. insurers, and we look forward to continuing to engage with the negotiations in future rounds.”...

September 28, 2017 - “There is no demonstrable national availability problem in property insurance markets,” said Tom Santos, American Insurance Association vice president for federal affairs. “Concerns about the capital adequacy and financial solvency regulations must be addressed before any expansion of commercial writing by RRGs can be entertained.”...

September 28, 2017 - “The P&C industry is pleased to see the framework’s plan for reducing the corporate tax rate to 20% and eliminating the alternative minimum tax,” the statement said. “The framework takes positive steps to address other business taxes in an effort to increase simplicity, efficiency, transparency, compliance and global competitiveness.”...

September 27, 2017 - Jeremy Merz, American Insurance Association vice president for state affairs, western region, says, "We supported AB 1422 and are happy to see the governor sign additional legislation following up on last year's legislation that continues to combat and try to eliminate fraud in the workers' comp system. This is another good step forward for both injured workers and employers in the system."...

September 26, 2017 - “AIA welcomes today’s news and greatly appreciates the hard work from U.S. and EU officials to get us here,” Stef Zielezienski, AIA senior vice president and general counsel, said....

September 25, 2017 - “This pilot program is positive in that it seeks to better coordinate care as well as to resolve treatment disputes more quickly and efficiently. This is a win-win for all stakeholders including insurers, the court system and, most importantly, injured workers,” Cooper said....

September 25 , 2017 - “We ask the administration to lead the nation in rebuilding after Harvey and Irma by ensuring our communities and infrastructure are strong enough to withstand the next big flood, and would welcome the opportunity to work with the administration on such a standard,” states the coalition’s letter....

September 22, 2107 - “When negotiations began, U.S. insurance and reinsurance groups were facing growing obstacles to their ability to do business in Europe, but this agreement removes those barriers — affirming not only each other’s regulatory systems, but also their commitments to non-discriminatory treatment and open, reciprocal, competitive insurance markets,” said Stef Zielezienski, AIA senior vice president and general counsel....

September 22, 2017 - Stef Zielezienski, AIA’s senior vice president and general counsel in Washington, had this to say about the agreement: “When negotiations began, U.S. insurance and reinsurance groups were facing growing obstacles to their ability to do business in Europe, but this agreement removes those barriers — affirming not only each other’s regulatory systems, but also their commitments to nondiscriminatory treatment and open, reciprocal, competitive insurance markets.” ...

September 22, 2017 - "AIA has long supported efforts to reform New York’s Scaffold Law," AIA's northeast regional vice president, Alison Cooper, told WorkCompCentral in an emailed statement. "No other state in the country has an absolute liability standard that holds construction contractors 100% liable for any gravity-related workplace injury, regardless of any negligence on the part of the injured worker.”...

September 22, 2017 - AIA and several major U.S. insurance organizations including the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) and the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) support the agreement....

September 18, 2017 - “We have dramatically more capital in our industry than in the days of Hurricane Andrew,” said Mike O’Malley, AIA’s VP for Public Policy. “Carriers are well prepared. We have dramatically better technology where we can track and manage risk aggregation, in particularly geographic risk.”...

September 15, 2017 - Mike O’Malley, senior vice president of public policy for AIA, said it's too early to know if rates will rise. Actuaries will rely on meteorological models and probability predictions to calculate how much it'll be to cover losses....

September 13, 2017 - AIA’s Maggie Seidel, vice president of public affairs, notes, "We haven't seen any evidence that suggests prior natural catastrophes - such as Florida's four major hurricanes in 2004 or Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - gave rise to a meaningful increase in either work-related injuries or workers' compensation premiums." AIA also does not expect large spikes in premiums due to the hurricanes....

September 13, 2017 - AIA southeast regional vice president Ron Jackson said Irma is one of the first hurricanes in Florida for which the insurance industry can use drones to inspect areas that adjusters can't visit right away, which could help speed up payments....

September 11 - “Business interruption coverage typically covers physical damage and may apply to shutdowns, revenue losses and to pay fixed costs like salaries and health care for employees who can't work in a natural disaster”, Whittle told CNBC....

September 11, 2017 - “To be covered for wind damage from a hurricane, a property owner in Florida should have a homeowners’ or condominium owners’ insurance policy,” said Mike O’Malley, the senior vice-president of policy at the American Insurance Association, a trade association. “However, this type of policy does not cover flood damage, including storm surge in a hurricane.”...

September 8, 2017 - Thomas J. Santos at the American Insurance Association, said private insurers are ready to expand, especially because risk analysis models have grown significantly more accurate in the past five years with simulations that are able to include a greater number of variables. ...

September 12, 2017 - AIA’s Mike O'Malley spoke with CBC’s Carolyn Ray about the impact Hurricane Irma is having on Canadians with property in Florida. You don't have to be there to move ahead with the process, O’Malley noted; but "[m]ost policies are going to require you to report [damage] as soon as reasonably possible. You need to have somebody with keys to your house down there.”...

September 8, 2017 -Midwest regional vice president Steve Schneider says that AIA has long supported no-fault reform in Michigan, which has one of the nation's most expensive systems. "We think reforms must reduce medical costs, give consumers more choices, and introduce reasonable reforms to cut down on insurance fraud. We encourage legislators to keep these consumer-focused reforms in mind as reform talks get underway."...

September 8, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Southeast Region Vice President for State Affairs Ron Jackson says that the trial court's decision to invalidate the ASC fee schedule was "incorrect." He adds, "The General Assembly clearly directed the commission to adopt regulations to address costs for all medical facilities. The lower court's (and ASC's) reading of the law would lead to the absurd result of ASCs being paid more than hospitals for performing the same services — all at the expense of North Carolina employers."...

September 6, 2017 - The American Insurance Association (AIA) lauds the Workers' Compensation Board for updating the guidelines. "The adoption of new, up-to-date guidelines should help reduce costs to the system while ensuring that schedule loss of use awards for injured workers are based on the most current medical evidence in order to accurately determine levels of impairment," says AIA Northeast Region Vice President for State Affairs Alison Cooper. "We also appreciate the efforts to bring structure and guidance to the independent medical examination process and look forward to working with the board to effectuate this goal."...

September 6, 2017 - “We applaud the House’s passage of this bill because it ensures that an individual with expert knowledge of insurance and policyholder issues will maintain a seat at the FSOC table regardless of the political changes in Washington,” the American Insurance Association’s Wes McClelland, vice president for federal affairs, said in a statement on Tuesday. “We thank Mr. Woodall for his continued leadership and look forward to the Senate continuing the process and sending a bill to the president's desk.”...

September 6, 2017 - Once you’ve returned home and surveyed the damage, call your insurance agent or company to initiate a claim. If you can prevent further damage by doing things such as securing a tarp over a hole to prevent further leaking, do so, and keep receipts for the claim, O’Malley says....

September 5, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Western Region Vice President for State Affairs Jeremy Merz says he is supportive of efforts to clear the comp system of fraud, but he is still reviewing the amended bill....

September 4, 2017 - Most major insurers now have a fleet of drones, and the technology has become so inexpensive that even smaller companies are beginning to use it, according to Jim Whittle, chief claims counsel for the American Insurance Association. He said the benefits were evident in the response to Hurricane Matthew. “If you had a good line of sight, for example, but you were stopped by nature or law enforcement from entering an area, you could put a drone in the area and get access to that property,” he said. “That could demonstrate immediately that that was a property that had considerable wind damage, let’s say, and allow the insurer to cut a check.”...

September 4, 2017 - The American Insurance Association was pleased the adopted model law is risk-based and consistent with New York’s cyber security law, said Angela Gleason, AIA’s senior counsel in Washington. “A lot of companies are already implementing New York, and to have to do something that is different is just not good for consumers or licensees,” she said....

September 4, 2017 - In recent years, however, the ALI has begun drafting Restatements that are neither clear nor reflective of the actual law. To the contrary, these Restatements have been more aspirational – not neutrally describing the current state of the law, but instead directing where the authors think it ought to go. We have seen this trend in a number of legal areas where the ALI restatement process is underway, and where the authors – called “Reporters” – have actually created new law, without the public accountability of duly elected government officials....

September 2, 2017 - Santos wants to make better maps using technology such as LIDAR, which involves mounting lasers to aircraft to survey surface features. That way, property owners could get a more nuanced appreciation of their flood risk rather than relying on the binary of being in or out of the 100-year plain....

August 31, 2017 - “How do we make the program work better for policy holders, reduce the burden on taxpayers and make the partnership with private carriers easier,” he said. “Those are the three big policy questions before Harvey and they will be the big three policy questions after Harvey.”...

August 31, 2017 - Santos acknowledged the private sector is unable to cover all homes, so his organization endorses a mix of extending the NFIP, providing better conditions for private insurers, and a serious reassessment of how and where properties are being built. “AIA’s view is all of these things need to work cooperatively,” he said....

August 30, 2017 - Thousands of people in Texas have been forced out of their homes in the wake of Harvey, which may lead many people to consider buying flood insurance. News4 Consumer Reporter Susan Hogan spoke with an insurance expert to find out whether people who don't live in flood zones should consider buying flood insurance....

August 30, 2017 - Santos describes the risk in the DMV as fairly considerable. He points to the devastating and deadly flooding in Ellicott City on Main Street just last year, the expensive flooding of Georgetown’s waterfront in 2011, and the frequent flooding in Old Town, Alexandria, almost any time it rains hard....

August 29, 2017 - There are some new regulations going into effect for financial institutions licensed by the state of New York this week. That’s for some banks, big insurance companies and all kinds of financial firms. The rules are about cybersecurity, specifically. They require companies to hire a chief information security officer, to report data breaches within 72 hours and to have a data-recovery plan in place. Pretty basic stuff, right? You’d be surprised....

August 29, 2017 - "There are companies who are willing to do it,” [Santos] said, adding it would be better for more private insurers to participate “so that when something like Harvey happens, it’s not all borne by the NFIP and taxpayers.”...

August 29, 2017 - “We’ve been arguing for a long time that more people should be purchasing flood insurance, but it’s a difficult product to convince people to buy,” says Tom Santos, vice president of federal affairs for the American Insurance Association....

August 29, 2017 - "There has to be a partnership," Santos said. "Neither the government nor private insurers will be prepared to absorb all of these losses all of the time in the future. There will be populations in the Gulf and other places that will be difficult for either side alone to insure."...

August 28, 2017 - “Illinois already has the most competitive marketplace for workers’ compensation insurance in the nation — reversing course and putting the state in charge of setting prices for workers’ compensation insurance will do nothing to fix the true cost drivers of Illinois' workers' compensation system,” said Steve Schneider, vice president for state affairs, Midwest region....

August 23, 2017 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a group of 27 other major corporations and business trade associations, including the American Insurance Association, have sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urging the agency not to finalize proposed changes by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to audit reports....

August 23, 2017 - "The ruling will likely increase costs for employers and add a level of uncertainty to the workers’ compensation claims process going forward," said Steve Bennett, associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association. "We hope a legislative remedy comes quickly."...

August 23, 2017 - Jeremy Merz, western region vice president for the American Insurance Association, said apportionment should be preserved, and he looks forward to conversations on SB 617, but he has not taken a position on the bill. "At its core, workers’ compensation is designed to provide medical and indemnity benefits for workplace injuries, and apportionment is an important statutory tool to ensure that," he said....

August 22, 2017 - The American Insurance Association (AIA), in an amicus curiae brief, argued on behalf of the carrier. "A further downward adjustment is appropriate in a case, like this, in which the ‘compensatory’ damages already contain a strong punitive element," AIA said. "In the scheme of things, the alleged conduct here cannot credibly be deemed to be as reprehensible as the vast majority of torts for which punitive damages may be imposed."...

August 21, 2017 - "We’re pleased the governor decided to veto this bill,” Steve Schneider, vice president for state affairs, Midwest region, American Insurance Association, said in a statement. “Given Illinois' record of financial mismanagement, the last thing its politicians should be entrusted with is paying for the medical bills of injured workers across the state. Illinois has an abundance of insurance companies — more than any other state — competing in the workers’ compensation business, so putting Illinois taxpayers on the hook for yet another obligation would have been a terrible mistake.”...

August 21, 2017 - "By all accounts this was a successful first round,” Steve Simchak, director of international affairs at the American Insurance Association, said in a statement to Morning Trade. “The pace that the three parties have committed to is impressive and a good sign of their expectations for future progress. The bottom line is that it seems as though all three are willing to improve NAFTA — to make it more reflective of the way business is done today rather than how business was done almost 25 years ago."...

August 17, 2017 - The American Insurance Association said flood mitigation and resilience should be part of any conversation to address infrastructure problems. “We will continue our important dialogue with the administration on these two points as well as other ways to reduce the threat of flooding,” the AIA said....

August 16, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Associate General Counsel Steve Bennett said, "AIA remains concerned about the effects of the court's decision for Pennsylvania's business community. The ruling will increase costs for employers and add a level of uncertainty to the workers' compensation claims process going forward. We hope a legislative remedy comes quickly."...

August 14, 2017 - Two amicus briefs were also filed: One by attorneys for the American Insurance Association, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the New York Insurance Association; another by the Electrical Employers Self-Insurance Safety Plan....

August 10, 2017 - “One thing that we and broader industry and folks like the National Insurance Crime Bureau that are active in loss prevention measures recommend is 1) Lock your cars. As we’ve discussed, there’s a lot of times when folks have made it very, very easy for their own vehicle to be stolen. 2) Parking in a well-lit area. If you’ve got the ability to add a safety feature to your vehicle; something visible that lets the people know that your car is protected in some fashion, then those are certainly measures that we would recommend. Then lastly and probably most importantly, consumers should understand their car insurance coverage and what policies they have."...

August 9, 2017 - “Plaintiff’s position would constitute a sea change that would degrade bad faith law such that mere negligence in claims handling could constitute bad faith, even in the absence of any evidence that the insurer was acting in its own best interests or without due regard for the interests of its insured [customer],” a brief filed by the American Insurance Association, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America read....

August 8, 2017 - "“Fundamentally, the model creates a risk-based foundation,” Angela Gleason, AIA senior counsel, said. “For this reason and due to the impending 2018 legislative sessions, we support moving forward with the adoption of this model. We look forward to working with individual commissioners to enact legislation based on this model in order to provide for a uniform set of rules for data security.”...

August 7, 2017 - "AIA Senior Vice President for Public Policy Michael O'Malley encouraged the NAIC to "go beyond coordinating, but to truly converge the two data calls. We've similarly had conversations with FIO where they've indicated a willingness to work with the NAIC and we really see such changes as a win, win, win. The NAIC gets to collect the data, the FIO gets what they need from these critical reports and companies get to do one data call. The goal has to be convergence, not just coordination."...

August 7, 2017 - “Plaintiff’s position would constitute a sea change that would degrade bad faith law such that mere negligence in claims handling could constitute bad faith, even in the absence of any evidence that the insurer was acting in its own best interests or without due regard for the interests of its insured (customer),” said the friend-of-the-court brief filed by the American Insurance Association, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America....

August 7, 2017 - “If it’s a large chemical facility or a large commercial enterprise, it’s certainly safer and more efficient to use a drone to take aerial photos of that, rather than having somebody walk around the entire facility doing these inspections,” Santos said. “So there are huge efficiencies to be gained in the insurance sector for their usage, and we’re seeing that play itself out.”...

August 4, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Southwest Region Vice President of State Affairs Fred Bosse said, "AIA applauds the Supreme Court's holding that the choice of pharmacy in a workers' compensation case belongs to the employer. Permitting employers to use networks administered by pharmacy benefit managers results in both increased patient safety and significant cost savings. PBMs use drug formularies and other clinical tools to monitor the utilization of dangerous drugs such as opioids, negotiate rebates and discounts, offer more affordable pharmacy channels, and encourage the use of generics and affordable brands."...

August 2, 2017 - The American Insurance Association was critical of the legislation following its final passage in late June. Eric Goldberg, AIA vice president, state affairs, mid-Atlantic Region, said limiting use of age to price risk would distort the market and lead to other drivers paying auto insurance costs for older drivers...

July 28, 2017 - Geopfert Senior Vice President and Head of specialty products, errors and omissions Erica Davis, who testified on behalf of the American Insurance Association, said, "Finding solutions to the most complicated of cyber risks will require collaboration, between the insurance industry, governments, academia, and other think tanks to establish standards and encourage information sharing," adding that "education, and hearing like this definitely help."...

July 28, 2017 - “In today’s increasingly interconnected world, cyberattacks can affect any business, regardless of size or industry. As cyber risks continue to change and evolve, businesses must evaluate their individual risks and vulnerabilities, and the cyber insurance market must be allowed to grow and innovate to meet those needs,” Angela Gleason, AIA’s senior counsel, said....

July 28, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Midwest Region Vice President Steve Schneider said, "We're pleased that the rates continue to decrease in Illinois, but what's important to note is Illinois' relation to other states." ...

July 28, 2017 - Erica Davis, SVP and head of specialty products E&O at Zurich North America, speaking on behalf of the American Insurance Association, told the Committee that “standardization” of regulatory processes would help insurers sell to SMBs, as education, marketing, and costs would come down....

July 27, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Senior Counsel Angela Gleason said, "In today's increasingly interconnected world, cyberattacks can affect any business, regardless of size or industry. As cyber risks continue to change and evolve, businesses must evaluate their individual risks and vulnerabilities, and the cyber insurance market must be allowed to grow and innovate to meet those needs."...

July 20, 2017 - Lobbyists for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and the Washington-based American Insurance Association also have lobbied lawmakers in support of reforming the litigation funding industry, according to disclosures with the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. "Regulating this industry is an important tort reform measure because it will help protect consumers and keep judicial system costs low," said Alison Cooper, AIA's vice president for state affairs in the Northeast region....

July 26, 2017 - “We applaud the committee’s passage of this bill because it ensures that an individual with expert knowledge of insurance and policyholder issues will maintain a seat at the FSOC table regardless of the political changes in Washington,” Stef Zielezienski, senior vice president and general counsel for the American Insurance Association in Washington, said in a statement on Tuesday. ...

July 25, 2017 - The American Insurance Association raised concerns about the plan for a complex model law, with AIA Assistant General Counsel and Director Lisa Brown pointing to provisions that allow NAIC staff to be the resource for states for technical advice. She said that the proposal "cedes way too much regulatory authority to NAIC staff" and creates confidentiality concerns about proprietary information in the models....

July 24, 2017 - "The American Insurance Association (AIA) has joined the New Jersey State Bar Association and 19 county bar associations and other professional groups to urge lawmakers to shorten the filing period for malpractice claims from six years to two years."...

July 20, 2017 - By the end of the week, 2,509 stores had been looted, burned or destroyed, including 611 supermarkets and grocery stores, 537 cleaners, 326 clothing and fur stores, 285 liquor stores and bars, 240 drug stores and 198 furniture stores, according to American Insurance Association data listed in “Violence in the Model City.”...

July 18, 2017 - The American Insurance Association (AIA) said compounds are known to be subject to "abusive pricing." AIA Southeast Region Vice President for State Affairs Ron Jackson said, "We support the (Florida) division's utilizing their statutory authority to identify potential issues and proactively address cost drivers for employers. These reviews may be necessary to ensure these are safe compounds and also that pricing is appropriate."...

July 17, 2017 - This particular agreement has proven a serious point of contention within the U.S. insurance industry. The American Insurance Association, American Council of Life Insurers, and the Reinsurance Association of America—all of whom have some members with European corporate parents, as well as U.S.-based members with significant interests in Europe—argue it is a necessary step to facilitate trade in services in both directions and to prevent discrimination against their members operating in Europe....

July 17, 2017 - While Dixon filed a new complaint with Consumer Affairs, we asked several insurance organizations if it's common practice to take the word of a contractor and not ask the homeowner if the homeowner is satisfied with the job before paying money out. "It is customary for the adjuster to deal with the homeowner rather than the contractor," said Jim Whittle of the American Insurance Association. "Situations can differ and there may be instances when an insurer deals with the contractor but most of the time, an adjuster deals with the homeowner."...

July 17, 2017 - Several major insurance organizations including the American Insurance Association (AIA), the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) and the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) welcomed the agreement in January, as did the International Underwriting Association, which represents wholesale re/insurance companies in the London market....

July 15, 2017 - “This agreement on prudential matters will end the discriminatory actions against U.S. insurers and reinsurers, increase U.S. competitiveness and boost the international standing of the U.S. state-based insurance regulatory system,” Stef Zielezienski, the American Insurance Association’s senior vice president and general counsel in Washington, said in a statement. “It is a win for U.S. insurers and reinsurers, their policyholders, regulators and the market as a whole.”...

July 13, 2017 - Workers compensation reform in the state of Illinois may be tough given the political climate in the state, experts said. “First and foremost, things need to cool down considerably,” said Steve Schneider, Chicago-based vice president for state affairs, Midwest region, American Insurance Association....

July 13, 2017 - Bipartisan workers' compensation reforms in Illinois, which had been negotiated by pro-business Republicans and pro-labor Democrats, are most likely dead until after the 2018 governor's race. "We're entering the real campaign season and I don't think tempers will cool down until after the election," says Steve Schneider, Midwest Region Vice President for State Affairs at the American Insurance Association. ...

July 12, 2017 - But those calculations don’t take into account how much capital individual subsidiaries, called legal entities, have available to pay claims, the American Insurance Association (AIA) told Bloomberg BNA after the IAIS seminar. “Capital at the entity level wouldn’t be recognized,” Phil Carson, associate general counsel and director of financial regulatory policy with AIA said. ...

July 11, 2017 - "We're entering the real campaign season and I don't think tempers will cool down until after the election," says Steve Schneider, vice president of Midwest state affairs for the American Insurance Association....

July 11, 2017 - [AIA's Steve Schneider] added that the passage of tax increases without workers' comp reforms this session sends the business community the message that more work needs to be done. "That's not a good message to send to employers and the state or outside the state," said Schneider...

July 11, 2017 - The American Insurance Association (AIA) found the ruling troubling. AIA Associate General Counsel Steve Bennett said, "This decision will create substantial uncertainty for the business community and increase costs. A central goal of workers' compensation is encouraging the appropriate return to work, but this decision will only make that objective more difficult." ...

July 7, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Midwest Region Vice President for State Affairs Steve Schneider says, "Illinois' volatile atmosphere means that the opportunity for beneficial workers' compensation reform is unlikely for the foreseeable future. There are two bills (HB 2525 and HB 2622) still in play, but neither would address any of the real issues in Illinois' workers' compensation system, like the need to reduce costs for employers and improve medical care for injured workers."...

July 7, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Midwest Region Vice President for State Affairs Steve Schneider said, "Nothing is ever dead in Springfield, but since 4068 is a Republican-sponsored bill, it's probably not going to progress very far. With respect to workers' compensation, tempers are at such a high and the hostility is so extraordinary, I don't think there's any sentiment to put together a workers' compensation compromise package today and maybe for the short-term future. ...

July 5, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Director of International Affairs Steve Simchak said that as federal negotiators work to update the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), they should focus on preserving insurance-friendly treaty language while expanding U.S. business opportunities across the continent. ...

July 3, 2017 - Insurance regulations are strict and vary from state to state, so it’s possible that the current regulatory environment is not adequately built for these new technologies, making it difficult to switch to newer systems, said Stef Zielezienski, the general counsel at American Insurance Association, a trade group....

July 5, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Western Region Vice President for State Affairs Jeremy Merz said that the amendments "turn back the clock to the failed workers' compensation policies of the past. It essentially will spike litigation, decrease speedy access to care in some situations, and leave injured workers worse off." ...

July 5, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Midwest Region Vice President for State Affairs Steve Schneider said, "The situation is normal: Stress and hostility in Springfield. There is just not any clear path forward right now on workers' compensation reform or property tax reform or the other non-budget-related items."...

June 30, 2017 - American Insurance Association (AIA) Western Region Vice President for State Affairs Jeremy Merz says, "With political turmoil in many parts of the country, the state of Oregon continues to serve as a leader when it comes to regulatory modernization."...

June 26, 2017 - North American insurance associations issued a statement June 21 expressing their positive view of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for the insurance industry...They also said they support the modernization of the treaty....

June 22, 2017 - The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was written at a time when people still watched movies on VCRs, made calls from payphones, and played cassette tapes in their cars. We must modernize the agreement in a way that best serves Americans. ...

June 21, 2017 - “Slow and steady, states will see the advantages to the treatment of injured workers and the workers compensation systems when policies are enacted,” [Bennett] said. “We will keep trying to get drug formularies enacted in states where they do not have them.”...

June 20, 2017 - The American Insurance Association objected to the age underwriting limitations. “Limiting the use of age to price insurance for older drivers, a highly predictive and widely used rating factor, will distort Delaware’s auto insurance market,” said Eric Goldberg, AIA vice president, state affairs, mid-Atlantic region. ...

June 19, 2017 - “The 2017 legislative session was a busy one for insurers with the introduction of more than 50 bills introduced with the potential to impact workers compensation, 20 of which were finally passed,” emailed Fred Bosse, Southwest region vice president for the American Insurance Association....

June 19, 2017 - “We’re taking a sort of existing body of law and we’re applying that body of law to new facts,” said Jim Whittle, an associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association....